Hi,
I am a customer as opposed to a contractor but having real difficulty with someone that is installing a fence for me. I am having approx. 30m of 6' and 90m of 4' close board (single straight run), 25m of post and rail and some gates etc. installed. I was concerned in the early stages that they didn't run a line front to back (just to get an idea of line even if not to work to) and were trying to run short lines from what they had already erected, at the bottom I believe they are a foot from where it should be but they insist they ran to a post that was already there. I voiced concern that when the frame went up it was neither straight or level and he said it would be fine once it was finished.
It wasn't, I had someone else (a local contractor) view it and they said it really wasn't good and it wasn't really fixable. Nevertheless the chap who installed insisted he had the opportunity to fix it which I was reluctant to as there were already 2 posts he had to move and he tried using the concrete from the day before to re-set them in and they were loose. So anyway he said he would put it right, he has broken out some of the posts (removing the bays whole)and put them back, one of the posts is loose and 4 of the 6 bays he has moved are really badly bowed face to back, some of which was probably down to the fact that the arris rails were already badly warped before he installed them. Similarly some of the bays are sagging, which I believe is down the fact the top rail and capping were installed before the boarding, which from what I have read should be done as you board?
There are other minor issues where things just haven't been finished properly, i.e. gaps / missing bits of capping, small sections of capping used to fill that is a different size, no tension on the stock to P&R fencing (which is also not straight and rails are right at top and touching ground), centre stumps been cut in some places so that they barely touch the floor and where they have been dug in not backfilled, we know that he cut down at least 3 of the posts (which doesn't really concern me on the 4' but he was hiding the ends on his van so we didn't know)... the list goes on.
I am looking for some feedback really, should I expect the fence to be badly warped and bowed in installation? I accept that with time there will be movement but there are 1-3" gaps along a single bay when you put a board along it and it has only just gone in. Can you really rectify the problems by simply breaking out the posts and moving something that has been constructed on site along a different level / line? Will the removal (3rd time on some of this) damage the integrity of the fence?
Sorry for the long-winded rant but things are getting really bad!
Will upload some pics later this eve.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks
Lewis
Views: 3460
Replies
Need photos!
Will add this eve when I get home, Thanks Chris.
Lewis
Hi Lewis
Sorry to hear you're having problems.
Can you say where you found and how you engaged with this person/firm? Did this person/firm come with a recommendation and did you get to inspect this person/firm's work before hand?
Do you have quote or estimate detailing what would be provided for the price you've agreed to pay?
Looking forward to seeing your photos.
The centre stumps should be set into the ground and concreted in place before the featheredge planks go on, otherwise the bays can sag. Resting (or not quite resting) on the ground is no good. The counter rail (top rail) and capping rail add rigidity to the top of the featheredge, but don't support the bays as such.
No amount of jiggling will fix bowed arris rails, they need to be replaced. Wood is a natural product and can move about a bit once seasoned, 1 inch on a 3m bay perhaps ok, but a bow of 3 inches on a new install is pushing the boundaries of reasonable. There's really no excuse for posts not being installed plumb, and there should be no movement once the concrete has set. If he's moved some posts, they'll need fresh concrete to refix them.
If you are around when the posts are dug out and moved, measure their depth into the ground, they should be buried 600mm (2ft) minimum for a 1.8m (6ft) fence.
Get a spirit level and check the posts for plumb, photograph, date and document the issues you have and present them in writing to the contractor to rectify. Hang on to copies as you may need them later.
Sorry to hear you are having these troubles, and good luck getting things put right.
I think Russell has covered it all, i hope you manage to resolve the issues
Thanks for the responses so far, here are a couple of pics, if anyone knows of any good sharing sites I can upload more there.
In response to the questions so far:
This guy had done work for someone near my grandparents who told them he did a good job. I saw some feedback on rated people that was all 5 star and he talked like he knew what he was doing so I thought he would be okay.
I do not have a written quote other than via email (for £800 more than the other company but I thought I was paying premium for quality) where he said he would match the work. I said I would go with him if he did some other jobs in the garden with his digger which he agreed to (and hasnt delivered half of).
If anyone is around Oxford area I would more than welcome a visit to assess the work and quote for remedial works. When I got home today he had stolen the gates which had been fitted so I think I need to seek legal advice now too.
I am so gutted about this as I have been saving up to get a proper job to look nice rather than going for the significantly cheaper option of post and rail with dog fence all the way round, the main reason we needed the fence was to keep jack russells in so that we could all enjoy the garden together.
Thanks for taking the time, I really appreciate any help.
Imgur.com is a good sharing site if you want to upload a lot at once.
couple more pics
A bowed arris rail can be easily solved by adding a central post to the full height of the fence. this will keep the line straight and stop any sagging.. I must be the only person that installs feather edge fencing with the posts at 1.5m centres rather than 2.4 metre or 3 metre bays, that will always eventually sag!
It may be overkill but it solves any issue like the ones that your having.
The rest of the issues are just down to poor workmanship. And should be easily resolved at the contractors expense!
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